The 10 Most Elegant Ottomans

Truth In Decorating: Interior designers Malcolm James Kutner and Tamzin Greenhill size up these posh perches

Though it's infamous as the furnishing that trips up Dick Van Dyke in the opening credits of his eponymous 1960s sitcom, incorporating an ottoman into a space shouldn't be a stumbling block. The plump upholstered piece migrated from Turkey to Europe during the late 18th century and evolved from sizable seating that dominated a room into a smaller, backless number. Ottomans have since become a beloved mainstay—Hollywood decorator William Haines often set them around a cocktail table to create a conversation area. For Manhattan decorator Malcolm James Kutner, its strongest asset is versatility. "Ottomans can double as accent tables, footstools, and additional seating," he explains. But however they are used, they should always conjure comfort, according to London-born designer and ELLE contributing editor Tamzin Greenhill: "Inevitably, you're going to put your feet up on them," she says. Here, Greenhill and Kutner rate ELLE DECOR's ten favorites.